ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.
“I don’t want marijuana in my community, I don’t wanna sell it, I don’t wanna see it, I don’t wanna smell it. You wanna do it in the basement of your house with your medical marijuana card, that’s your business.” — Hudsonville Mayor Mark Northrup
I’ve said it often in this space, but I’ll say it again: If you can’t legislate against law, then regulate it. If you can’t stop something, try to exert some kind of control over it.
Such is the case again in lawmakers’ longtime losing battle against legalizing marijuana. Too many local and state officials still take the horse and buggy drug warrior approach in dealing what many have come to understand as inevitable,
Michigan voters last month approved 56% to 44% a state-wide ballot proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, 10 years after overwhelmingly approving a similar proposal for medical marijuana. Despite the best efforts of laughable War on Drugs corn-pone horror stories about “brain chromosome damage,” there are more than 30 of the 50 of these United States that have made it legal to smoke or use weed, at least for medical reasons.
Local and state officials are swimming against a tide of public opinion that no longer buys into their ridiculous tales of woe. As Bob Dylan sang more than 50 years ago, “Please get out of the new one (road) if you can’t led a hand, for the times, they are a-changing.”
Martin Township and Watson Township officials already have approved a local measure to prohibit facilities that sell, cultivate and distribute pot. And it is their right, Other local municipalities are taking a “wait and see” attitude because rules haven’t been handed down by the state’s Licensing and Regulatory Agency (LARA).
Nonetheless, judging by public comments from Dorr Township, Leighton Township and City of Wayland officials, there is little or no interest in permitting marijuana dispensaries within their borders. Some cite local voting totals in the Nov. 6 general election, as if that should trump the will of the people statewide.
Using that logic, which I call the “Terri Rios theory,” because Allegan County went against Gretchen Whitmer for governor, Dana Nessel for attorney general and Jocelyn Benson for secretary of state, they shouldn’t be recognized here in their positions.
But once again, the real culprit in this issue if the triumph of fear over rational logic, a fear that is exploited shamelessly by drug warriors, the alcohol industry, the prison industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Follow the money.
To be sure, there are downsides to legalizing marijuana, downsides such as an increase in fatal traffic accidents. There were public safety downsides to legalizing fireworks as well, but that didn’t stop our boys and girls in Lansing, and police often don’t want to get into neighborhood disputes over the noise created and enforce the weak law.
Local city and township officials are sidestepping the wishes of the voters statewide. They should instead figure out ways to accept the inevitability of legal marijuana and regulate it to minimize its impact. The people have spoken. Under the rules of a democracy, the game is over.
Stop wasting public time fighting the will of the people just because, like Mayor Northrup, you fear or don’t like marijuana in your town. The world does not revolve around you. You’re supposed to work for the people, not the other way around.
Well said Mr Young , and you are very correct these issues revolve around thosr who oppose not the people who have spoken for the issues.
Ah!! Yes the Terri Rios theory ….just by chance with some vigorous campaigning .The Rios theory and supporters will encounter a surprise in 2020….a change is coming
It’s just my two cents, but it would seem to me that one would rather have the so-called evil weed close by and under local control so as to maximize the lawful dispensing of marijuana. The old “keep your friends close, your enemies closer” philosophy. With close supervision one would expect less illegal activity in the local environment. I just wish AZ would legalize recreational pot to eliminate the desire and “need” to obtain it unlawfully. At least MI is a bit ahead of the reefer madness mind-set.
To compare the gateway drug marijuana with fireworks is asinine. Your displeasure of the fireworks law is yours (and I agree with you), however, the world of drugs is a dark one. For every one person finding medical relief there now will be many abusing it and other drugs much more.
Having the accidental rate attributed to alcohol is bad enough, now we can look forward with disdain at the additional deaths on the highway because a small group of potheads feel the need to legalize it statewide.
I hope whatever way they use to determine drug intoxication, it is low like alcohol. And for those officers having to notify the victim’s loved ones, you have my greatest sympathy.
I never thought the citizens of Michigan would vote for more evil in society, but they have. Why am I surprised, they support killing the most innocent among us every day. What a depraved people we have become.
Your criticism of Mr. Young for comparing cannabis to fireworks, is the same as you comparing cannabis to abortion.
I would not call the results of the vote a “small group of potheads ”
It is currently the minority who are rushing to enact ordinances the prevent what the majority of the State voted Yes for. (hopefully, most will overturned in a court of law.) If not, than you are correct in saying Michigan is an Evil society. Proving that to pass a proposal the minority dislike can be so regulated those majority votes for the proposal are worthless.
I am not sure the banners and flags with the saying “Don’t Tread on Me”. promated the loss of the people’s voting power..
Tready is a moron. A small group of pot heads? A overwhelming majority approved it by voting. I hope Wayland allows pot shops and put a city tax on it to gain some money. Credit cards only to reduce crime.
Just because its legal dos not mean everybody is going to use it, now Its legal for me to marry another man do not think i will do that either,
Marijuana is nothing new in Allegan County. . I say this with certainty. What will be new will be regulation and taxation. By the way, driving under the influence of marijuana has been illegal for a long time; there’s nothing new there neither.